Chapter 356 A god!!
Zeus's gaze swept the room, his expression unreadable but his presence commanding silence. When he finally spoke, his voice was like rolling thunder. "The mortal carries the Flame of Vitality, a divine essence that does not belong in a mortal vessel. This much, we all know. What we must decide is what to do with him now."
A low murmur rippled through the room, a dangerous undercurrent of divine judgment.
"Kill him," Ares suggested bluntly, his voice sharp and unforgiving. He leaned forward, his crimson eyes glinting with malice. "End him here and now. The flame will return to the Torch of Eternity where it belongs."
Aphrodite's head snapped up, her lips parting to protest, but Zeus silenced her with a raised hand.
"That won't work," a calmer, wiser voice interjected. Athena, her golden armor glinting faintly in the ethereal light, folded her arms. "The flame, once embedded in a mortal vessel, does not return to its source so easily. Killing him may destroy the flame altogether."
This revelation silenced Ares and the others who had been leaning toward immediate violence.
"If death is not the answer, then how did this even happen?" Poseidon rumbled, his trident clanging against the floor as he stood. His sea-blue eyes locked onto Aphrodite and Eros. "You two were the ones who committed this crime. Explain yourselves."
All eyes turned to the bound duo. Aphrodite glanced at Eros, her expression pleading.
Eros sighed, his defiance crumbling under the weight of the stares. "It can't be undone," he admitted, his voice weary but resolute.
"Explain," Zeus commanded, his tone sharp.
Eros hesitated, then began. "When we created the Vitality System, it wasn't just the Flame of Vitality that we imbued in him. I took... other things. Eternal Lust from the goddess Freya to enhance his mortal desires and potential. Strength from Heracles to bolster his mortal frame. And, perhaps most daringly, I borrowed fragments of Hermes' speed and Hecate's arcane knowledge to ensure the system would function seamlessly."
The hall fell deathly silent. The implications of Eros's words hung heavy in the air.
"You stole from *us*?" Hera hissed, her voice dripping with venom. "You dared to steal from the gods to create this... abomination?"
"It wasn't theft!" Eros shot back, his chains rattling as he strained against them. "It was a solution! A necessity! None of you were willing to act, to *do* something about the decay in the mortal realm. So we did!"
Athena's eyes narrowed, her sharp mind already piecing together the consequences of Eros's actions. "If what you say is true, then the balance has already been shattered. The mortal is no longer just a man. He is a living convergence of divine essences. Killing him would destabilize the realms entirely."
Zeus rubbed his temples, his frustration evident. "And if what you say is true, Eros, then what choice do we have? What are we to do with this mortal who now holds the balance of our existence in his hands?"
The gods began to murmur again, their voices blending into a chaotic symphony of suggestions and condemnations.
"Make him a living component of the flame," one voice suggested, cutting through the noise.
The room stilled as the suggestion hung in the air.
Zafron, who had been listening in stunned silence, finally spoke. "Hold up. A *what*?"
The gods turned their gaze to him, some sneering, others indifferent.
"A living component," Athena explained with clinical precision. "You would be bound to the Flame of Vitality as its living vessel. Your existence would ensure the balance remains intact, but you would be tied to this realm, unable to return to your mortal life."
Zafron blinked, his mind racing. ‘They want me to stay here? Forever? Like some cosmic paperweight?'
"No way," he said firmly, his voice cutting through the tension. "I'm not signing up for that. I've got a life back on Earth. A wifeâ€"two wives, actually. Friends. Responsibilities. You can't just... stick me here like some glorified torchbearer."
"You have no choice," Hera snapped, her tone icy. "The balance must be maintained, and your mortal life is insignificant compared to the survival of the realms."
"On the contrary," Zafron shot back, his voice growing steadier. "I do have a choice. If I'm the one holding this so-called balance, then killing me throws everything into chaos, right? So, let me make this clear. If you try to trap me here, I'll take *everyone* down with me."
The audacity of his words stunned the room into silence.
Hera's face twisted in fury. "You dare to threaten the gods?"
Zafron smirked, his defiance unwavering. "You're all a bunch of hypocrites. None of you would sacrifice your life for the same cause you're trying to shove down my throat. Don't pretend otherwise."
The gods exchanged uneasy glances, their pride warring with the uncomfortable truth of Zafron's words.
Zeus finally spoke, his voice heavy with both authority and exhaustion. "What are you proposing, mortal?"
"A part-time job," Zafron said, crossing his arms.
The room erupted into incredulous murmurs.
"A part-time job?" Athena repeated, her tone laced with disbelief.
"Yeah," Zafron said, leaning into his defiance. "I come here when you need me to stabilize whatever needs stabilizing. But the rest of the time, I'm back on Earth with my wives, living my life. Take it or leave it."
"This is absurd!" Ares growled, his fists clenching.
"Maybe," Zafron said with a shrug. "But I'm the one holding the cards here, aren't I?"
The gods turned to Zeus, their leader, awaiting his decision. Zeus stared at Zafron for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he sighed.
"This mortal," Zeus muttered, shaking his head. "What are we to do with him?"
*** Enjoy new chapters from empire
[System Alert: Sovereign Integration Complete]
[Welcome to the Eros Sovereign Vitality System: Apex Protocol]
[Analyzing Host's Potential... Loading New Parameters...]
[Enhanced System Parameters Detected]
[Adaptive Evolution Pathway Activated]
[Generating Sovereign-Level Attributes...]
---
New Sovereign Attributes Unlocked:
Name: Zafron
Potency Level: 10 (Sovereign Tier)
Vitality XP: Unlimited (Sovereign Pool Activated)
Physical Attributes:
Strength: 120
Endurance: 115
Agility: 110
Vitality: 100
Eros Attributes:
Virility: 100
Pheromone Production: 95
Reproductive Health: Perfect
Social Attributes:
Charm: 90
Confidence: 85
Attraction: 80
Sovereign Skills Unlocked:
Slime Manipulation (Omega Tier): Control and evolve slime constructs at will.
Berserker Mode (Ascendant Form): Unleash unlimited power for a limited time, with no backlash.
Sovereign Command: Influence and dominate wills without resistance.
Vitality Transfer (Sovereign Mode): Heal or empower allies through direct vitality exchange.
Reality Fracture: Bend small fragments of reality to Zafron's will for short durations.
Status:
Overall Health: 200/200 (Perfect Condition)
Potency: 200/200 (Sovereign Reserve Enabled)
XY Virus Resistance: Immune
[Warning: System Boundaries Exceeded – New Sovereign Title Integrated]
[Title Unlocked: Eros Sovereign]
[New Directives Available: Eros Sovereign Protocols]
---
As the final system alerts faded, Zafron's consciousness stirred. His body felt like a coiled spring, brimming with untapped energy, as if every cell had been infused with divinity.
Inside the cocoon, the once-red glow turned an intense gold, illuminating the room in cascading waves of power.
[System Alert: Host Awakening Imminent]
[Warning: Overwhelming Energy Release Detected]
The cocoon quaked violently, its surface shifting in unnatural, jagged patterns. With a deafening crack, it shattered. Slime surged outward like a tidal wave, slamming into the walls but avoiding the lone figure standing a few feet away.
Zafron sat up from the remnants of the cocoon, his eyes snapping open. They weren't the same eyes as before—his irises burned with a radiant gold, glowing with an inner fire that spoke of godlike power.
He inhaled deeply, his voice deeper and more commanding as it echoed through the room.
"I am reborn."
Zafron's triumphant declaration hung in the air, but his expression quickly shifted as his gaze landed on the figure in the room. His body froze, disbelief etched into his features.
Standing before him, tears streaming down her face, was Mara.
"You..." His voice faltered, his golden eyes wide. "Mara? But... you're dead."
Her hand shook nervously, her sobs making her words tremble. "You kept me alive, Zafron. Even when I thought it was over... you did it. You saved me."
His mind raced, the reality of her presence battling with the certainty he had carried for months. "I don't understand. How are you here? How is this possible?"
Mara took a shaky step closer, her voice thick with emotion. "I don't know either. But it doesn't matter. I'm here... because of you."
Zafron stared at her, the overwhelming power surging through his veins momentarily forgotten. He reached out hesitantly, his golden eyes softening as his hand brushed her cheek, confirming she was real.
"You're alive," he whispered, his voice breaking.Nôv(el)B\\jnn
She nodded, tears flowing freely now. "I'm alive... and it's all because of you."
For a moment, the weight of the past months and the power of his transformation faded into the background. All that mattered was that Mara was standing before him, alive and breathing.
But the silence between them didn't last long. The lingering energy in the air pulsed faintly, reminding Zafron of his newfound state.
He straightened, his gaze steadying. "I don't know how this happened, but I promise I'll protect you, no matter what."
Mara's lips quivered, but she managed a weak smile. "You already have, Zafron. You already have."
Zafron's gaze flickered to Mara once more, the burning intensity of his golden eyes softening with concern. His voice, though still carrying the weight of his newfound power, was filled with a trace of anxiety.
"What about Matilda?" he asked, his brow furrowing. "Where is she?"
Mara's expression darkened, and she sighed heavily, crossing her arms as she stood there. "She was taken," she replied quietly. "By some guy named Raxus. He's... dangerous. Sakura and Cassandra are already out there, heading to rescue her."
The name "Raxus" hit Zafron like a jolt of electricity. His face twisted with a mix of recognition and frustration. "Raxus...?" His voice was filled with venom. "The undercity's feared leader?"
Mara nodded, her gaze hardening. "Yeah. That's him. He controls the undercity with an iron fist. And now he's got Matilda."
Zafron's golden eyes burned brighter, his fists clenching at his sides. "I know who he is. And I won't let him get away with this."
Mara's eyes widened, but before she could say anything further, Zafron was already moving. His body blurred, golden light flashing as he zipped toward the door.
"Stay here," he ordered, his voice filled with authority. "I'll handle this."
In an instant, he was gone, leaving only a shimmering trail of golden energy in his wake. Mara stood in stunned silence, watching the spot where Zafron had been, her arms crossed and worry gnawing at her.
"Just don't get yourself killed…" she whispered under her breath.